Books

With its picture-perfect terrace houses, enviable cachet of cultural hotspots and more sleek coffee shops than you can shake a bag of finely ground beans at, it’s little wonder that Melburnians regularly claim their bayside city to be the most liveable in the world. Add to the mix a first-rate food scene and an abounding wine region on its doorstep and you may just find yourself agreeing with them. We’ll give you plenty of reasons to hit the streets come rain or shine.

• Secret locations: In most cities, a venue that’s tucked away down a shady alley or up neverending flights of stairs may find it difficult to attract footfall. But in Melbourne the harder the place is to find, the better.
• Numbers game: Melbourne’s CBD follows a standard grid format but streets outside of these ordered city blocks stretch on, passing through several neighbourhoods. And, upon entering a new suburb, the numbers reset.
• Café culture: Working in a café in Melbourne is a coveted career choice. In fact, these well-paid positions attract talented and enthusiastic staff who are likely highly trained baristas.
• A little tip: Hospitality wages are excellent here but if the service is outstanding it’s polite to round up the bill or add 10 to 15 per cent.
• Weather: Melbourne’s weather can be notoriously fickle. Pack layers that both combat cold snaps and protect you from the searing sun, as well as an umbrella to keep yourself dry.

The definitive travel guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go. Monoclemagazine covers the world with its network of bureaus (New York, Toronto, Zurich, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, Singapore), its more than 30 dedicated correspondents based from Beirut to Bogota, Sao Paulo to Stolkholm, and its team of on-the-road reporters based out of its headquarters in London. Monocle-the magazine that covers urbanism and the city design like no other-knows about the hidden gems in all the great cities. It also knows where to take an ambassador for breakfast, an on-the-go businessman for a late night cocktail, or where to get an astute concierge at ungodly hours. Its deep understanding of cities and all they have to offer has been compiled in the new Monocle Travel Guides. Launching this spring with editions for London and Tokyo, followed by New York and Hong Kong, these beautiful books reveal the Monocle team's favorite places, from the ideal route for an early morning run to the best spots for independent retail. Aimed at people who do not want to be tourists but rather feel like locals when they travel, these are books for those who want to mix the classic with the contemporary, want to get beyond the cliches, and know they can get a feel for a city even if they only have a few days. And they are full of surprises and quirks: the books will guide you to a grand hotel but also to a cozy two-star, and will leave you drinking in a local corner bar or being served by a great waiter who knows his craft-while being wary of pushing you into the newest, hippest, soulless bar. Created by the Monocle design team, these authoritative guides will be trim enough to drop into your pocket and wise enough to stay by your side throughout your travels.

Gone are the days when outsiders struggled to pinpoint Singapore on a map; this equatorial city-state is making waves across myriad sectors from health to logistics. Its skyline has taken shape at a blistering pace with numerous attention-grabbing architectural accents. Singapore can still surprise though: quaint colonial-era shop houses sit anachronistically nestled alongside skyscrapers; temples, mosques, and churches share the same streets and open-air food courts sell tasty street food just steps away from fine-dining establishments. With a decidedly global outlook, the country embraces all things hi-tech and modern while having one foot firmly rooted in tradition.
The Monocle Travel Guide to Singapore will equip you with the know-how to explore beyond the obvious. We've scoured the city-state for the top restaurants and kueh (confectionery) shops and listed the independent retailers selling goods that embody the best of "brand Singapore".

There's the food, the culture, the architecture, the art Notre Dame and Montmartre and the Louvre and then there's the side of Paris you've never seen, until now. Paris: the city of love, the city of light the city everyone thinks they know from movies and books. But there's more to this vigorous new-old metropolis than Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Along its winding streets and hidden in picturesque views along the Seine, there's so much more to do and discover, to taste and see, than what you imagine. The Monocle team is your guide as you explore the nouvelle cuisine in the city's up and coming restaurants that are revitalizing classic dining. Step off the beaten path and into galleries showcasing works that will inspire future art world trends. Escape the crowds and the tourists in laidback local bars and classy clubs. And then bundle up in designer goods from the best unknown boutiques as you stroll through history and romance. Paris is a wonderland. This is your ticket.

New York used to be such an easy city to crack for the visitor. Not only was there that simple-to-master grid of streets but, really, who wanted to stray from Manhattan? Today, while that stretch from Wall Street to the Upper East Side and beyond still enchants, awes, and bamboozles, you really do need to cross some bridges and head upstate. The city's focus has fractured and shifted and you ignore the appeal of, say, Brooklyn at your peril. This is especially true of anyone wanting to grasp the city's fast-evolving food scene, discover some fresh design ateliers, go for a run, or buy some less-exposed art.

Monocle has had a bureau in New York since its launch in 2007 and it has a shop in the city too. This has made the Monocle team passionate about the place and its ambitions. This book is a celebration of all that they know and love about New York and it should be used to take you beyond the obvious spots (although who wouldn't want to hit the museum biggies). New York can easily live up to its movie-star good looks but let it be a city that surprises you, too in a good way.

Miami has a lot going for it: its shoreline, year-round warm weather, and diverse population. So don't just get caught in the bubble of fun but distracting Miami Beach. This guide will help you explore the city's numerous neighborhoods from Little Havana and Coral Gables to the Design District and discover its full potential. Monocle will introduce you to the dynamic arts and culture scene that is surely the most vibrant and exciting in the U.S., the best bars and restaurants often more laid-back than in other big North American cities and everything in between.

Monocle's team shares the knowledge it has acquired from regular pilgrimages down south from its bureaus in Toronto and New York, as well as its contacts and insider knowledge from being regular attendees at Art Basel Miami Beach. This is a guide that shows modern Miami for what it is and without the tired bikini and sports-car cliches.

Vast and sprawling, a tangle of roads and lanes, a muddle of rising and falling neighborhoods: London can be a big beast to tame, even for the people who get to call it home. But this ever-changing and regenerating capital can also charm you with its beauty, from wind-rustled parks to that winding River Thames. Its mix of people, abundance of culture, and the occasional louche night on the tiles also makes it a city that will surprise you and win you over.

The Monocle Travel Guide to London is a celebration of all the things that the Monocle team loves above this mighty metropolis (and they are brave enough to let you see the wrinkles too). It's a guide to the bars, shops, restaurants, music venues, and museums that they think should edge their way on to your itinerary. They will lure you to some fresher neighborhoods and fill your head with lots of We really have to see ideas. And they will leave you with a clear, crisp view of how the capital is changing. London is a global city but the Monocle team will help you see it as a series of friendly local gems. Hold on to your hat.

Kyoto may be full of hushed streets steeped in tradition and hidden institutions run by kimono-clad custodians but don't be fooled: there's more to this captivating city than timeworn teahouses and graceful geiko. Japan's former capital has its own distinct identity, dialect and dishes, and beyond the Buddhist temples and Zen gardens you'll find a dynamic city that's constantly evolving.

The Monocle Travel Guide series reveals our favourite places in each city we cover, from the ideal route for an early-morning run to the best spots for independent retail. Full of surprises and quirks, they also feature detailed design and architecture pages, neighbourhood walks to get you away from the crowds and our favourite places to eat everything be it tasty fast food or something truly celebratory.